Paul in Rome
When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people.
I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”
They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”
So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.
And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, ‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”
For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
Acts 28:16-31
The first issue I want to deal with is Paul’s house arrest, which includes the following reader questions:
- Why if Paul was a prisoner did he have such freedom?
- Who made the decision that Paul could stay by himself with a guard?
- How many men would have guarded him? Four like at other times?
- What sort of place could Paul have been living in for so many Jewish leaders to come to where he was living?
- It all seems too good to be true. How could Paul have all these visitors if he was a prisoner with a guard? Was he free to just roam around the city as he pleased with his guard?
- Would he have been chained to the guard like other times? Verse 20 suggests that he was chained. How did that work if the guard was with him 24/7?
- How could Paul live for two years at his own expense?
- How could a prisoner get money if he was under guard?
- What would he do to get money anyway?
My question of omission is: The story has been leading up to appearing before Caesar.
- So why is that missed out?
- Did Paul ever appear before Caesar?
One other question was added by a reader:
- Did Paul convert the guard with him?
The other questions before us:
- You said the use of “we” stops Ian, does that mean that Luke has now left Paul on his own?
- Why is Paul meeting with the Jews again after having so much trouble with them?
- He is an apostle to the Gentiles, why doesn’t he go to the Gentiles?
- How many Jewish leaders were there Ian?
- How can Paul have done anything wrong to the leaders in Rome when he has only just met them?
- How can these Jews have already heard about Christianity?
- Why do these Jews have exactly the same reaction as all the other Jews? It is like it is a national trait.
- Were the words Luke finished quoted as Paul said to the Jews in Rome or were they a general summary of all the Jewish responses?
- How does Luke know what was said if he didn’t stay with Paul? It doesn’t mention Luke in the final verses.
- Why doesn’t Luke give us a summary of what happened to Paul after that?
- Why does the story just stop where it does?
- It seems like it doesn’t have an end. Like it is an anti-climax. What is going on Ian?
Paul’s Situation Under House Arrest
Yes Paul does seem to have an easy time as a prisoner in this description by Luke. One person has suggested that it is like Paul is wearing a modern day electronic bracelet and has the run of the city. While he had freedom I don’t think he had that much freedom. Luke’s account of the two years in Rome seems to suggest Paul was confined to the house he was placed in. Luke doesn’t tell us anything that suggests Paul was allowed to leave the house. No more preaching in the market place or moving around Rome. It seems he was confined to quarters. There is no indication in the text that Paul left the house.
I suspect the freedom that was given was a result of the leniency extended to Paul from the time of Felix onward. It is like the Roman authorities realised there was no case against Paul in reality and once he was out of the jurisdiction of Jerusalem he was accorded a certain measure of freedom. Paul’s nature was to do good to all men as he preached. So immediately people who encountered him appear warm toward him. This even includes the commander of the guard on the ship, who it seems trusted Paul enough to get off the ship at Sidon. Paul was clearly a trustworthy character and people treated him as they found him.
I think initially it was Julius, the captain of the Roman guard onboard ship, who set the tone for the way Paul was treated from then on. I think Julius would have influenced how Paul was treated in Rome. Paul had been a model prisoner on the journey to Rome, so why not offer him a measure of leniency in Rome. Clearly the Roman authorities allowed Paul to be treated this way. The conditions of his house arrest match the Roman practices in the later phase of the Empire. The term used was “free custody”. It meant he could live in a house by himself but with a single soldier guarding him. Paul would have been attached to the soldier by a light chain connected at the wrist. He would not have been allowed away from the premises but could have people to see him on the property. It is likely that the Christians of Rome could have come to visit him as they pleased. Thus when Paul wanted to meet with the Jewish leaders in Rome he could ask for them to come to him as seems to have been the case.
The house Paul was “a prisoner in” was clearly a large Roman villa given the number of people who gathered to see him at one time. Large enough to hold the Jewish leaders of the synagogues of Rome. Luke tells us that large numbers of people came to the house. Likely someone would have been appointed and in attendance to prepare meals and take care of the house. It is hardly likely that Paul, chained to his guard, would have had to take care of the house and prepare his own meals. Imagine if Paul and His guard had to do all of that. Spare a thought for the guard chained to Paul all of the time.
- That prompts a raft of questions, doesn’t it?
- Was it always the same guard or was there a changing of the guard?
- Was Paul indeed chained to the guard 24/7 or was he allowed to sleep and go to the toilet without the guard with him?
Well you have to admit such a situation prompts these questions. Any other questions you have on this matter you will have to hold until you meet Paul face to face in heaven.
The last three reader questions on this topic are interesting ones:
- How could Paul live for two years at his own expense?
- How could a prisoner get money if he was under guard?
- What would he do to get money anyway?
Paul’s primary means of earning money in the past was by making tents. I can’t imagine that Paul ordered in the necessary raw materials and tools to make tents while being chained with a light chain to a guard. That doesn’t make sense to me. (Maybe the guard became bored and helped Paul to make tents to fill in the time. Hardly likely.) But on the other hand I would have thought Luke would have told us if it were the Christians of Rome who looked after Paul by providing what he needed. It would seem to have added a dimension to the story if we had been told specifically that the Christians of Rome rallied around Paul. The use of the term [misthoma] refers to the contract price or rent on the house he was occupying. Included along with that would be food and drink etc enough to feed a multitude of people it seems. The imperfect use of the verb in the last verses suggests on going hospitality and expenses.
Remember that Paul is not just sitting around in his Roman villa or rented accommodation taking care of guests and hosting dinner parties while he was in Rome. He was preaching the gospel and writing Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon and welcoming all who came to him. There had to be something more going on behind the scenes. But I have no idea exactly what the mechanisms and ministrations of Paul’s “villa in Rome” were. If you have further information please tell me. If I come across more information I will tell you. Otherwise we will all have to stand in line in heaven in to ask Paul personally.
Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.
Anon
God is more interested in your tomorrow than your yesterday. He is most interested in your today.
Anon
Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.
Dr.Seuss
Today will you complain or contribute? Compete or cooperate? Criticize or compliment? Crush or create? Curse or cheer?
Anon